News Main Menu

Penn State Behrend Early Learning Center maintains accreditation

Center also retains Eco-Healthy Child Care designation

July 30, 2013

Penn State Behrend Early Learning Center maintains accreditation

The Early Learning Center at Penn State Erie, The Behrend College, has maintained its accreditation by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC). Only 8 percent of all preschool programs earn the distinction.

The center also has been re-endorsed as an Eco-Healthy Child Care (EHCC) program. That designation promotes programs that have eliminated or reduced environmental health hazards to align with “best practice” guidelines for air quality, pest prevention, household chemicals and toy and playground materials.

The Early Learning Center at Penn State Behrend was first endorsed as an EHCC program in 2011. The center was first accredited by NAEYC in 2005. To maintain that standard, the program is subject to more than 400 accreditation criteria, including site visits, annual reports and unannounced inspections.

The Early Learning Center opened in 1993 and has been located in Knowledge Park since 2001. The center provides services for children between 6 weeks and 6 years of age with staff-to-child ratios lower than those required by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.